I just had to lead with the first picture because first of all, who really looks like this when they do the splits? Certainly NOT me 🙂  Definitely NOT recommended to do them on the beach in a skimpy bikini … sand in places …. well, you know. I used to watch tv sitting in the splits and was able to do them until I was in my early/mid – 40s.  Then … I decided to become a health coach.  

This involved traveling from Portland, OR to NYC 10 times over 8 months (if I remember correctly, this was in 2005).  Needless to say, some of my healthy routines got lost with all of that traveling/studying, having a 4 y.o. as a single mom and being a self-employed homeowner.  Not complaining at all, my plate was just full.  

This is the place and time that I lost my easy/natural flexibility.  I have come close a few times to getting it back … and have always lost it again.  I’m on a mission, yet once again, to get back to my old ways.  I know that this is possible as I’ve done it before.  

What had an even bigger impact on me was when I lived in Japan.  I wanted to practice Aikido.  Going to the dojo was a bit intimidating for me as I was the only foreigner and the only woman.  To top it off, they didn’t speak English and my Japanese was ‘survival’.  Needless to say, I ended up trying to do tai chi in the park with a group of women.  What I did get from my dojo visit was that these OLD Japanese men were sitting in the splits just like I used to when I was a kid.  Anything is possible!